The roundtable, announced without a specific date, will bring together education officials, law enforcement, child safety advocates, and potentially technology representatives to canvas the full scope of the problem. Minister Car said discussions would cover sex assault, as well as “horrific and hateful online content,” though further details of the agenda have not been released.
While the minister's office has not disclosed the specific incident or incidents that prompted the meeting, the announcement follows a series of high-profile cases in which teenagers have been victims of sexual assault linked to online grooming or social media exposure. Reports of young people encountering violent, misogynistic, or extremist material have also risen in recent years, placing pressure on schools and families to respond.
“We need to look at the whole picture – what is happening in our schools, what young people are being exposed to online, and how we can better protect them,” Car said in a statement released to media. The roundtable is expected to explore policy options including stronger digital literacy programs, updated reporting protocols for schools, and potential reforms to how social media platforms interact with minors.
The meeting comes as the federal government continues to debate the Online Safety Act and age-verification measures, while state education departments grapple with day-to-day incidents. Critics have argued that state-led initiatives risk duplication and that a coordinated national approach is needed to address cross-jurisdictional online platforms.
Education unions have welcomed the roundtable but warned that teachers and school staff cannot be expected to manage the fallout from poor regulation of tech companies. “Schools are on the front line, but the root cause of these harms is often outside the school gate,” said the president of the NSW Teachers Federation, speaking on background.
Parent groups have called for concrete outcomes, including mandatory reporting of online abuse incidents from schools to police, and better support for victims. Meanwhile, digital rights advocates urge caution around privacy-invasive measures, stressing that education and support should take precedence over surveillance.